Inflatable buoy



y 30, 1967 .1. P. SOUBIRAN 3,321,785

INFLATABLE BUOY Filed p 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1977 ORA/E Y6 May 30, 1967 J. P. SOUBIRAN INFLATABLE BUOY 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 //v VEN TOR United States Patent Claims. in]. 9-31s) This invention concerns a new type of inflatable buoy which is light, not bulky and can be worn continuously and brought into use rapidly and easily.

The inflatable assembly of this buoy essentially comprises a frame of which at least some parts are tubular and provided with perforations, this tubular frame permitting the buoy to be fixed and kept around the neck or any other part of the body, as well as allowing the flow of the inflating gas; at least two inflatable sleeves disposed independently around the frame; coupling elements permitting, on the one hand, the gas-tight mounting of each sleeve around the frame and, on the other hand, communication of the tubular parts of the frame with one or more sources of gas under pressure.

The source or sources of gas under pressure may be one or more bottles of compressed gas closed by valves and screwed into the coupling elements, the latter being equipped in this case with percussion devices enabling the opening of the corresponding valves to be produced at the desired instant, the gas then entering the sleeves by passing through the coupling elements, the tubular portion of the frame and the perforations in the said tubular portion.

The inflation of the buoy can also be achieved by blowing into tubes screwed into the coupling elements, these tubes being provided with a, mouthpiece containing a non-return valve preventing the air blown in from issuing from the buoy.

It is also possible to use a buoy equipped with a bottle of compressed gas and a tube for inflation by blowing, the bottle being used only in case of emergency and instantly inflating the corresponding sleeve, thus ensuring that the wearer will float, and the tube, on the other hand, being used when the wearer feels discomfort but still has the time and the strength to blow into the said tube.

In one embodiment of life-buoy according to the in- 'vention, the frame is constituted by two flexible tubes provided with perforations, one end of each of these tubes being fixed to a double coupling element formed by the juxtaposition of two single coupling elements, the other end being closed by a plug also serving as a fastening system enabling this end to be connected to the corresponding end of the other tube, thus forming a kind of collar.

In a second embodiment, the frame of the buoy is of variable length enabling it to be adapted to the neck size of the wearer, sleeves of variable dimensions being, of course, likewise provided, and this frame being constituted by rigid elements sliding or telescoping one within the other, the inner element being a rod or strip of spring metal or of synthetic material which, when in use, forms a closed curve, the said inner element being able to slide in tubes which are likewise curved, provided with perforations and the ends of which are connected to coupling elements, a median member moreover separating the inner element into two parts and providing for the gastight fixing of one end of each sleeve, the other ends of which sleeves are mounted on coupling elements.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES l and 2 are sections of two embodiments of the buoy according to the invention, and

FIGURE 3 is a section of a tube enabling the buoy to be inflated by blowing into it.

3,321,785 Patented May 30, 1967 The first embodiment of buoy shown in section, uninflated, in FIGURE 1, comprises the following various parts, a frame 1 constituted by two flexible tubes of rubber or synthetic material which are provided with perforations 2, two inflatable sleeves 3 rnade of flexible extensible and strong rubber which .is insensitive to heat and cold and resistant to iodine or sea water, or of a synthetic material having similar properties, a coupling element 4, preferably of mouldable synthetic material, bottles 5 closed by valves and containing gas under pressure, preferably carbon dioxide gas, the bottles being screwed into the element 4, percussion levers 6 mounted on the element 4 and enabling the opening of the valves of the bottles 5 to be eflected through the medium of small metal cylinders or shells 7, a bayonet fastening element 8 and a corresponding socket element 9, these elements serving on the one hand to connect the ends of the tubes 3 and on the other hand to close the said tubes and sleeves.

The ends of the tubes 1 are fitted and secured on the elements 8 and 9, on the one hand, and on tubular portions 10 of the element 4, on the other hand. The sleeves 3 are also fitted and secured in gas-tight fashion on the elements 8 and 9 and on the tubular portions 10, grooves :11 enhancing the efficiency of the securing or gripping action. The tubes '1 may be longer than the resilient sleeves 3, since the latter expand considerably when they are inflated.

The coupling element 4 has two bores 12 extending through it and the lower portions of the said bores are screw-threaded at 13 so as to enable the bottles 5 to be screwed into them. The levers 6 pivot on pins 14, their pivoting range being relatively large owing to the slots 15 formed in the tubular portions 10. These levers are inside the tubes 1 and therefore inside the sleeves 3 and, thus, the gas-tightness of the percussion device is complete. The lower ends of the levers 6 rest on the shells 7, which themselves rest on valves of the bottles 5.

The preparation for action and operation of this buoy are extremely simple. The bottles 5 are first screwed into the coupling element 4 with the shells 7 interposed, the buoy is secured round the neck of the wearer by means of the bayonet elements 8 and a, a pressure is applied to one of the levers 6 or to both in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 1 and the shell 7 is pushed in and bears on the valve of the corresponding bottle. The gas under pressure is then released and, by way of the bore 12, the tube 1 and the perforations 2 in the latter, passes into the respective sleeve 3, which it inflates instantaneously. The inflation of a single sleeve 3 is sufficient to ensure that the person wearing the buoy will float.

The embodiment shown in FIGURE 2 differs from the preceding one essentially in the nature of the frame or collar. In fact, this consists of telescoping components 16 and 17, the hollow elements .17 being able to slide on the element 16. The element 16 is a rod or strip of spring metal or of synthetic material which, in use, forms a closed curve which can be opened owing to the elasticity of the element when the buoy is placed in position. The element 16 is divided into two parts by a median member 18, preferably of synthetic material, on which the ends of two sleeves 3 are fitted and secured in grooves 19. The elements 17 are rigid curved tubes of synthetic material provided with at least one perforation 20 located in the vicinity of their end. The element 17 is made to slide on the element 16 to a greater or lesser extent according to the size of the neck of the person wearing the buoy and sleeves of variable dimensions are provided.

The end of each tube 17 extends into a coupling element 21 into which a bottle 5 of compressed gas is likewise screwed. Over each element 21 there are also fitted the other ends of the sleeves 3, gas-tight fixing thereof being facilitated by the grooves 22 and, if required, by an encircling elastic band.

The opening of the valve of the bottle 5 is produced by a lever 23 disposed in a recess formed in the element 241 and pivoting on a pin 24. When the bottle 5 and the shell 7 are in position, the lever is in contact with the end of the shell.

This buoy operates in the same Way as that constituting the first embodiment described, it being sufficient to press manually on the lever 23 in the direction of the arrow.

The buoys described herein may also be inflated by mouth. To this end, it is sufficient to screw into the elements 4 or 21, in place of bottles 5, a flexible, tube 25 (FIGURE 3) one end of which is provided with a tip having a screwthread 26 identical to that of the bottles 5, the other end having a mouthpiece 27 equipped with a non-return valve, for example a ball valve 28. To inflate the buoy, it is then sufficient to blow into the mouthpiece 27, the air blown in beingunable to leave the sleeve again owing to the action of the valve.

It is also advantageous to use a buoy in which one sleeve is connected to a bottle 5 and the other to a tube 25, the first method of inflation being employed only in case of emergency, it being possible for the second to be used when the person wearing the buoy feels fatigue coming on but still has enough strength to carry out the inflation.

Other forms of buoys complying with the same principle could be considered, in particular a buoy in which the frame consists solely of a hollow element such as 17 (FIGURE 3) or again of a flexible, but inextensible tube or sleeves produced in a plurality of parts may be employed.

I claim:

1. An inflatable buoy, the inflatable assembly of which comprises essentially a frame of which at least some parts are tubular and provided with perforations, this frame permitting the buoy to be fixed and kept around the neck or any other part of the body of the wearer, as well as permitting the flow of the inflating gas, at least two inflatable sleeves disposed independently around the frame, and coupling elements permitting, on the one hand, the gas-tight mounting of each sleeve around the frame and, on the other hand, communication of the tubular parts of the frame with one or more sources of gas under pressure, the source or sources of gas under pressure being one or more bottles of compressed gas closed by valves and screwed into the coupling elements, the latter being equipped with percussion devices enabling the opening of the corresponding valves to be produced at the desired instant, the gas then entering the sleeves by passing through the coupling elements, the tubular portion of the frame and the perforations in the said tubular portion.

2. An inflatable buoy according to claim 1, the inflation of which may be obtained by blowing into tubes screwed into the coupling elements, these tubes being provided with a mouthpiece containing a non-return valve preventing the air blown in from issuing from the buoy.

3. An inflatable buoy according to claim 1, equipped with one bottle of compressed gas and one tube for inflation by blowing, the bottle being used only in case of emergency and instantly inflating the corresponding sleeve, thus ensuring that the wearer will float, and the tube, on the other hand, being used when the wearer feels discomfort but still has the time and the strength to effect the inflation.

4. An inflatable buoy, the inflatable assembly of which comprises essentially a frame of which at least some parts are tubular and provided with perforations, this frame permitting the buoy to be fixed and kept around the neck or any other part of the body of the wearer, as well as permitting the flow of the inflating gas, at least two inflatable sleeves disposed independently around the frame, and coupling elements permitting, on the other hand, the gas-tight mounting of each sleeve around the frame and, on the other hand, communication of the tubular parts of the frame with one or more sources of gas under pressure, the frame being constituted by two flexible tubes provided with perforations, one end of each of these tubes being fixed to a double coupling element formed by the juxtaposition of two single coupling elements, the other end being closed by a plug also comprising a fastening system enabling this end to be connected to the corresponding end of the other tube, thus forming a kind of collar.

5. An inflatable buoy, the inflatable assembly of which comprises essentially a frame of which at least some parts are tubular and provided with perforations, this frame permitting the buoy to be fixed and kept around the neck or any other part of the body of the wearer, as well as permitting the flow of the inflating gas, at least two inflatable sleeves disposed independently around the frame, and coupling elements permitting, on the other hand, the gas-tight mounting of each sleeve around the frame and, on the other hand, communication of the tubular parts of the frame with one or more sources of gas under pressure, the frame having a variable length enabling it to be adapted to the size of the neck of the wearer, sleeves of variable dimensions being likewise provided, this frame being constituted by rigid elements sliding one within the other, the inner element being a rod or strip of spring metal or of synthetic material which, when in use forms a closed curve, the said inner element being able to slide in tubes which are also curved and provided with perforations and the ends of which are connected to coupling elements, a median member separating the inner element into two parts so as to permit the gas-tight fixing of one end of each sleeve, the other ends of which are mounted on coupling elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,424,597 7/1947 Werry 93 16 2,451,474 10/1948 Craig 9316 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. E. CORRIGAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INFLATABLE BUOY, THE INFLATABLE ASSEMBLY OF WHICH COMPRISES ESSENTIALLY A FRAME OF WHICH AT LEAST SOME PARTS ARE TUBULAR AND PROVIDED WITH PERFORATIONS, THIS FRAME PERMITTING THE BUOY TO BE FIXED AND KEPT AROUND THE NECK OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE BODY OF THE WEARER, AS WELL AS PERMITTING THE FLOW OF THE INFLATING GAS, AT LEAST TWO INFLATABLE SLEEVES DISPOSED INDEPENDTLY AROUND THE FRAME, AND COUPLING ELEMENTS PERMITING, ON THE ONE HAND THE GAS-TIGHT MOUNTING OF EACH SLEEVE AROUND THE FRAME AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, COMMUNICATION OF THE TUBULAR PARTS OF THE FRAME WITH ONE OR MORE SOURCES OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE, THE SOURCE OR SOURCES OF GAS UNDER PRESSURE BEING ONE OR MORE BOTTLES OF COMPRESSED GAS CLOSED BY VALVES AND SCREWED INTO THE COUPLING ELEMENTS, THE LATTER BEING EQUIPPED WITH PERCUSSION DEVICES ENABLING THE OPENING OF THE CORRESPONDING VALVES TO BE PRODUCED AT THE DESIRED INSTANT, THE GAS THEN ENTERING THE SLEEVES BY PASSING THROUGH THE COUPLING ELEMENTS, THE TUBULAR PORTION OF THE FRAME AND THE PERFORATIONS IN THE SAID TUBULAR PORTION 